Musical instrument



H. M. CHIRON June 25, 1929.

Filed Jan. 25, 1928 His Arm/=0 1 Patented June 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES HIPPOLYTE MARIUS CHIRON, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed January 23, 1928, Serial No. 248,923, and in France November 16, 1 927.

My invention relates to improvements in volving a modification of the octave-key for musical instruments of the type described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 232,179, filed November 9, 1927 and to which the present application is a companion.

My improvement resides in the fact that the pivot arms of the so-called octave-key lever are eliminated and the key-pad alone remains on the outer side of the neck of the instrun'ient, the said key-pad being attached by suitable means to the stirrup surrounding the neck of the instrument, said stirrup being disposed in accordance with the pivoted lever mounted beneath the neck and controlled by the manipulating key so that the key-pad can close and open the octave-opening, the said key-pad being normally held in closed position by means of a spring.

By means of this disposition of parts, the outer or upper surface of the neck is entirely free and may be grasped by the palm of the hand which can thus cover a larger surface thereof for shoving the neck into the body of the instrument.

The objects and the advantages of this improved embodiment will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a saxophone partly in section with my improved octave key applied; and

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation looking from the right in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, 10 represents the body of the instrument into which is shoved the neck 11. The said neck is provided on its upper side with an octave-opening o. A key-pad a? is adapted to close and open the said opening and is fixed between the arms of a stirrup (Z. The said stirrup is rigidly at tached to the upper extremity of an inclined lever c pivoted on a stud carried by the neck 4). A spring 5 is disposed between the neck 1) and the lever c and is adapted to maintain the key-pad a in closed position. The said lever c is given a form conformingto the contour of the neck and the extremity 0 thereof is adapted to engage an arcuate plate 6 carried by the extremity of a manipulating key 6 and concentrically disposed with respect to the extremity of the body to of the instrument, the said key 6 being pivotally mounted on a stud 6 carried by the said body of the I instrument \V.

The forms and dispositions of the various elements and accessories of the above described device, the din'iensions and constituent materials thereof, obvious details and their means of execution, such as, the placing and positioning of the spring may be varied without departing from the spirit of the present invention except as defined by the appended claims. 7

Having thus described my invention What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a musical instrument having a main body and a detachable curved neck fitted therein, the combination of an octave openin g formed in said neck on the upper surface thereof, a key-pad for said opening and means disposed entirely beneath said neck for operating said key-pad.

2. In a musical instrument having a main body and a detachable curved neck fitted therein, the combination of an octave opening formed in said neck on the upper surface thereof, a stirrup surrounding said neck, a keypad on said stirrup normally closing said opening, a two-armed lever mounted beneath said neck having one of its arms connected to said stirrup, a manipulating key carried by said body and means carried by said manipulating key operatively engaging said other arm of said lever for permitting relative displacement between said body and said neck without destroying the adjustment of the said key-pad.

3. In a musical instrument having a main body and a detachable curved neck fitted therein, the combination of an octave opening formed in the said neck 011 the upper surface thereof, a stirrup surrounding said neck, a key-pad on said stirrup normally closing said opening, a two-armed lever mounted beneath said neck having one ofits arms connected to said stirrup, a manipulating key carried by said body and anarcuate plate carried by said maniplating'key and overlapping the other arm of said two-armed lever.

4.In a; musical instrument, having a main body and a detachable curved neck fit-ted therein, the combination of an octave opening formed in the said neck on the upper surface thereof, a stirrup surrounding said neck, a key-pad on said stirrup normally closin said opening, a two-armed lever mounte beneath said neck having one of its arms connected to said stirrup, a spring disposed be tween said two-armed lever and said neck opposing pivotal movement thereof, a manipulating key carried by said body and a concentrically disposed arcuate plate carried by said manipulating key and overlapping the other arm of said two-armed lever.

5. In a musical instrument having a main body and a detachable curved neck fitted therein, the combination of an octave opening formed in said neck on the upper surface thereof, a stirrup of substantial lei-shape surrounding said neck, a key-pad carried by the arms of said stirrup normally closing said opening, a two armed lever mounted beneath said neck having one of its arms connected to said stirrup, a manipulating key carried by said body and means carried by said manipulating key operatively engaging the other arm of'salid lever for permitting relative displacement between said body and said neck Without destroying the adjustment of said key-pad;

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification at Paris, France, this 16th day ofDecember, 1927.

HIPPOLYTE MARIUS CHIRON. 

